Exploring Wildlife
across the North East
Thanks for stopping by Common By Nature!
Focused on botany and insects, this blog brings together my observations of wildlife across the North East.
As a naturalist, my main interest is biological recording. This means that much of what you’ll see here will focus on finding and identifying wildlife, of all kinds.
For shorter updates, sightings and general chit-chat, you can also follow my mini-blog on Facebook below…
New posts on North East wildlife
Observations on nature in Newcastle, Northumberland and beyond.
An Encounter with Lady Clermont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x clermontiae)
A quick account of an overdue run-in with a Northumbrian speciality – Asplenium x clermontiae Now, I am rather dreadful at ferns and for a while now having been trying…
Identifying Crocuses
Get started identifying the wild and naturalised snowdrops you’re most likely to spot in a brand-new crib sheet suitable for beginners.
An Urban Flora of Newcastle – One Year On
A project update following a busy old year surveying the urban flora of Newcastle.
Identifying Cotoneasters
Get started identifying the naturalised cotoneasters likely to be recorded in Northumberland and several others that may occur in the future.
North East Botany
Of all the branches of natural history, it is botany that interests me the most.
While I am certainly not an expert, despite finding myself in the lucky position of becoming a BSBI County Recorder, here you’ll find observations, articles, and musings on plant life in the North East.
From exquisite orchids to urban trees, let’s see what we can discover!
Recent botany blogs
Recording and enjoying plants across Newcastle and Northumberland.
Identifying Clovers
Get started identifying the wild and naturalised clovers likely to be recorded in Northumberland.
Newcastle’s Urban Flora – A Project Update
An account of a busy season recording for what I’m loosely calling an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle’. As many of you will know, over the past year, I’ve been working…
Botany at East Chevington
A not so quick account of a brilliant two days spent botanising Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s East Chevington reserve.
Into the Hen Hole: Botany in the Cheviots
A quick account of a fantastic botanical outing to the famed Hen Hole gorge, one of the Cheviot’s hidden gems.
Recording Ladybirds
Since 2020, I have become increasingly enamored with Britain’s diverse and beautiful ladybirds and for a while now, have been making an effort to record those found across the North East.
A personal challenge, if you will, these pages share my discoveries and observations so far. With a long way to go and many more places to visit, I’ll keep this area updated with ladybird news and discoveries.
Recent posts on ladybirds
Articles and updates on ladybirds and their recording in the North East.
Recording Ladybirds in 2022: a Few Highlights
Ladybirds have been a theme of 2022. Fresh from twelve months of ladybird recording, here’s a quick round-up of the highlights this year.
Ladybirds: A Short Talk and a New Course
With the arrival of winter, now seemed like a good time to look back on a year’s worth of ladybirds and look forward to a new course in 2023. A…
Great sites for ladybirds in the North East
A breif and evolving list of great places to find and record ladybirds in North East England.
Ladybirds along the Tyne – Elswick, Heaton, Havannah & Prudhoe
From the city carparks and cemeteries to chalk mounds at Prudhoe, it has been a fantastic fortnight for local ladybirds.
The Basics of Wildlife Recording
A quick look at the basics of biological recording, including the key components of a wildlife record.
Sharing Your Wildlife Records
So, you’ve created a wildlife record. Now, where do you send it to maximise its value for conservation?
Comparing Plant ID Apps
Plant identification apps can be confusing, especially at first. However, there are lots out there to help botanists ID their finds.
North East wildlife highlights
Just a few exciting finds and lucky captures from walks across the region
